Study on the Improvement of Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Its Mechanism in Rats by Gegen Decoction

HUANG Lixian; LI Hongyan; FAN Qingjing; WU Jing; LI Qunxian; PEI Xuemei; MA Hongming; LI Qingbin; ZOU Yihuai

Abstract：Objective To study the neuroprotective effect of Gegen decoction on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and analyze its potential mechanisms.Methods SPF-grade male SD rats were selected to establish a left transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(t-MCAO)model.After successful modeling,the rats were randomly divided into a model group,low,medium,and high dose Gegen decoction groups,and an Edaravone group,with a sham-operated group as the control.After 5 days of corresponding drug administration via gavage,neurological function scores were measured;TTC staining was used to detect the area of cerebral infarction;mitochondrial morphology was observed under a transmission electron microscope;HE staining was used to observe the cellular morphology and pathological changes of neurons in brain tissue;colorimetric methods were used to detect levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione(GSH)in serum;and Western blot was used to detect the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)/solute carrier family 3 member 2(SLC3A2)/glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)proteins in the amino acid-glutathione metabolic pathway.Results Compared with the model group,the different doses of Gegen decoction and edaravone groups showed significant improvement in neurological function in rats(P<0.01),a decrease in cerebral infarction area,reduced mitochondrial damage,and improvements in brain edema,inflammatory cell infiltration,and cell necrosis;compared with the model group,the levels of SOD and GSH in the high and medium doses of Gegen decoction and edaravone groups were significantly increased(P<0.05),while ROS levels were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the protein expressions of GPX4,SLC3A2,and SLC7A11 were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Gegen decoction can improve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats,and its mechanism of action may be related to ferroptosis.